Still need to hook up your dorm room with a good alarm clock? Check out the Timex XM Alarm Clock Radio available on Woot! for a meager $49.99.

Includes a line-in for your iPod, and a line-out for additional speakers (to ensure you wake up for that Friday-morning class).

The Timex XM-Ready Alarm Clock (TMX1A) also comes with an XM CNP-100 Connect-and-Play Antenna (which normally ranges from $40-$50 by itself), plus a one-year warranty thrown in for good measure. All you need is an XM sub, and you're good to go.

(Tip to parents: big, loud, alarm clocks - preferrably with XMLM set as a preset - are a necessity in college.)

[Woot!]
Thanks Mike!

XM has taken the wraps off the new XpressRC - the first full-color plug-and-play radio with a split-screen display. Not only do you get the much needed full-color display, but the XpressRC features 60-minute pause/replay functionality and the ability to save up to 10 favorite songs for later listening.

I noted back in May that color displays were a long-needed function for plug-and-play receivers - a feature that now will be a reality.

XpressRC features include:

A customizable, color display that allows XM listeners to view channel, artist name and song title. The split-screen lets listeners view the current channel information on the left side, while browsing to view what is playing on up to three different channels on the right side. The split-screen allows listeners to easily browse to discover what XM content is playing on multiple favorite channels without having to change the dial.

A buffer that saves the last 60 minutes of programming so listeners can easily replay what they just heard. XpressRC users can also pause the XM programming they are listening to with the option to play that programming as long as it is within the 60-minute timeframe (and the unit is not powered off).

The ability to easily save up to 10 favorite songs for future listening. The split-screen option enables listeners to see the artist and song that is currently playing on the left side of the screen, and view up to five other saved songs on the right side at the same time. (I can only assume the 10-songs limitation is a concession for the RIAA, considering the Inno lawsuit is still going on.)

Quick channel navigation with the option to pre-set up to 10 favorite channels, or press number buttons to enter and move directly to the desired channel.

The radio display automatically adjusts brightness from day to night while in the car and includes a customizable stock and sports ticker, as well as TuneSelect alerts (notifies you when a song/artist is playing on another channel).

The XpressRC includes a new FrequencyFinder feature, which conveniently scans and locates FM frequencies for listening to XM through your FM radio.

Interestingly enough, even though the receiver sports the "Xpress" moniker, the device is actually manufactured by Delphi. Audiovox in the past manufactured the Xpress, XpressR, and XpressEZ - but it looks like XM is extending the Xpress brand to other manufacturers now as well.

The XpressRC will be available in fall 2007, with an MSRP of $169.99.

[Product Page]

More photos of the XpressRC available after the jump...

The Bushnell ONIX 400 GPS/XM Satellite Radio/XM NavWeather uber-device has been a subject of obsession since CES, but beyond the "Summer" ship date we've never known when it would be available to the equally obsessive masses.

Well, an Orbitcast reader grabbed the bull by the horns and did the unthinkable... he emailed Bushnell. And who'da thunk it, they actually gave him the scoop on the ship date:

Good afternoon,

Thank you for contacting Bushnell. You should start to see the Onix 400 in stores around the first to second week of September.

And there it is. The wait is nearly over.

Thanks Gregg!

While we're all twiddling our thumbs waiting for the Bushnell ONIX400 uber-gps to come out, it looks like Bushnell has spilled the beans on the real naming of its corresponding 'personal' weather service.

I say real naming, because in the beginning of the year word got out that the consumer version of XM WX was going to be called XM SkyWatch. Indeed, even the XM WX website shows SkyWatch as one of the packages... though, for marine purposes only. (Remember, XM WX is an ultra-advanced, professional service that likely wouldn't suit the consumer who's simply trying to avoid getting wet.)

So leave it to Bushnell to list "XM NavWeather" on their website, putting all speculation to rest. The nice thing is that the pricing info from back in January hasn't changed:

XM NavWeather (only)
$9.95 / month

XM Radio & XM NavWeather
$16.94 / month

Now the only remaining question is... when is the Bushnell ONIX400 coming out? Because I really want one.

[Bushnell]